Manchester United urged to ‘sack’ Erik ten Hag as three major flaws pointed out

The defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday marked Manchester United’s seventh loss in the current Premier League campaign, intensifying the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.

Danny Murphy asserts that for Manchester United to reestablish themselves at the pinnacle of the Premier League, they must part ways with Erik ten Hag. The recent dismal loss to Bournemouth, with goals from Dominic Solanke, Philip Billing, and Marcos Senesi, has further raised concerns about Ten Hag’s leadership.

Despite three consecutive Premier League victories that earned Ten Hag the Manager of the Month award for November, the mood quickly soured after the convincing 2-1 win over Chelsea.

Murphy, in his column for the Mail on Sunday, advocates for a decisive action by the club’s leadership.

“If United aspire to compete with the best in English football, Ten Hag is not the manager to lead them there,” Murphy wrote.

“Under Ten Hag, United cannot match the prowess of City, Liverpool, and Arsenal with the current player lineup.

Instead of witnessing progress after a promising first season, the team appears to be regressing, and Ten Hag’s continuation seems unlikely to change that trajectory.

“While acknowledging that not all issues are solely Ten Hag’s fault, it is evident that some of the challenges at United extend beyond him.

The recruitment decisions made under his influence have yet to yield successful results, and player motivation appears lacking, partly attributable to him. Tactical improvements are also imperative.”

The loss to Bournemouth marked United’s 11th defeat across all competitions, and the team broke into double figures for losses at the quickest rate since the 1973/1974 season when they were relegated to the second tier.

Despite a significant investment exceeding £400 million since Ten Hag’s appointment in May 2022, concerns about the team’s direction persist.

Murphy concludes, “A change is overdue, but only if a clear plan is in place. Sacking Ten Hag without a defined strategy would be futile.

However, the prevailing sentiment is that the current manager may not be the right fit for United. The indifference towards Bournemouth’s victory at Old Trafford speaks volumes about the current situation.”